The Mystery Megapack

and scattered applause as Bane’s leading lady accepted his invitation. From the catcalls that followed, I think there was physical contact between them, too.
    Still playing to the audience, Bane said, “Of course, we’re going to need to rehearse, and tomorrow morning is pretty well booked. Do you think you can spare me some time now to go over the scene? We could work in my room.”
    There were even louder catcalls, and I didn’t need to hear the woman’s answer to know she’d agreed. That was my cue to get in position and make the last arrangements.
    I’d told Elliot not to rush, so I had plenty of time to get to Bane’s room. Too much, in fact, because I had time to reconsider what I was doing. Twice I reached for my walkie-talkie, ready to call the whole thing off, but then the door opened, and Elliot escorted Bane in. Along with Shannon.
    She was nestled under the actor’s arm, looking at him so lustfully that it took a while for her to notice I was there, long enough for Elliot to close and lock the door. When I’d told Elliot he didn’t have to stay, he’d insisted strongly enough to make me think it was more than professional loyalty, but it was the wrong time to think of that.
    Finally Shannon saw me. “Hey, Regina. Did you hear? Bane picked me. I guess I’m not going to be able to help out with security tomorrow.” She actually giggled.
    “That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t want you on the team anymore anyway.”
    “Hey, I know I haven’t been at my best, but—”
    I forced a laugh. “No, I think this was your best.”
    “Now, now,” Bane said soothingly, “I’m sure Shannon’s been trying.”
    “Then how did that woman nearly get past her at the meet-and-greet? And you didn’t see the mess she made in the signing room.”
    “That wasn’t my fault!” she protested.
    “Maybe not, but you didn’t show up to help, either.”
    “I told you I didn’t hear the call.”
    “That’s right, you forgot your walkie-talkie, didn’t you?” I said with a sneer. “Where’d you leave it this time—there sure as hell isn’t anyplace to put it in that getup.”
    “You know I’m not on call tonight,” she said defiantly. “It’s locked up in my room!”
    “Then how did you hear the Linus when Pinky fell down the stairs?” I asked.
    She went white. “What?”
    “For once, you were where you were supposed to be—you got there faster than Andi. So how did you know there was a Linus?”
    “Someone told me.”
    “Who? I’ll buzz whoever it was right now to confirm.”
    “I … I don’t have to tell you anything.”
    She was right, of course. I wasn’t a cop, and I wasn’t going to beat it out of her. Fortunately I didn’t have to, because Bane took her in his arms, and looked at her with those indescribably blue eyes, and said, “You didn’t mean to kill him, did you, luv?”
    “No,” she whispered. “I mean, it wasn’t me.”
    He gave her the smile that had melted the heart of the werewolf hunter herself, not to mention countless fans. “Of course it was, but you didn’t mean for him to get hurt. Just tell me what happened.”
    I was almost afraid to breathe. If she hung tough, I didn’t think there was anything else we could do. But she was a fan, through and through. She’d killed to get close to Bane—she couldn’t lie to him. As long as she basked in his attention, Elliot and I might as well not have existed.
    “I didn’t mean to,” she said in a tiny voice. “I only came up here to talk to you about using me in your scene, but Pinky wouldn’t let me come in. He said he knew I was lying about working security. He knew which conventions I’d said I’d worked at, and he actually called to check up on me. Can you believe that?”
    Bane shook his head in shared dismay.
    “I’ve worked at other conventions, honest I have, but I was just a gopher, and I knew a gopher wouldn’t get to see you up close. I just had to meet you.”
    He nodded understandingly.
    “Then Regina got mad at me, and you and that other girl—”
    “She meant nothing to me,” Bane said convincingly, both because he was an actor and because it was true.
    “I know, but Regina had already given you to Pinky, and I knew tonight might be my last chance to talk to you. That’s all I wanted. But Pinky said I was a phony, and that you wouldn’t want to waste time with me. He was going to buzz Regina to tell her about me. So I knocked that damned walkie-talkie out of his hand.